Saddle



F. H. LEDDY Aug. s, 1958 SADDLE File'd Oct. 4, 1957 FIG. 3.

FRANK H. LEDDY United States Patent SADDLE Frank H. Leddy, Fort Worth,Tex.

Application October 4, 1957, Serial No. 688,370

6 Claims. (Cl. 54-46) This invention relates to saddles and hasreference to improvements in pivoted stirrup leathers.

An object of the invention is to provide a saddle of the referred totype which is more comfortable to the rider. Particularly, such comfortis made possible by thinner bars having greater area, yet by reason ofthe present pivot construction the stirrup leathers are stronglysupported on the bars.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pivoted stirrup leatherconstruction and arrangement whereby the stirrups may be readily swungto the neck position, but are positively locked against a swingingbackward.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a ball bearing forfreely swinging the stirrup leathers, together with means for adequatelysupporting the stirrup leathers thereon.

These and other objects will become apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of a saddle tree showing a stirrup leatherpivotally connected therewith in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken transverse sectional view of theconstruction illustrated in Figure 1, the section being taken verticallyalong the pivot point thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a ball bearing assembly used in theinvention, and

Figure 4 is an exploded broken perspective view of applicants pivotassembly adapted to be received in a particularly shaped recess in theouter forward surfaces of the saddle bars.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral designates a rawhidecovered saddle tree including bars 11 along each side thereof. It is tobe understood that the rigging is to be applied to the tree and that thepresent construction makes possible a more comfortable completed saddle.

A particular feature of the invention has to do with the shape of therecesses 12 in the forward outer surfaces of the bars 11, and whichrecesses are covered with rawhide 13 as is the remainder of the saddletree 10. The recesses are forwardly and downwardly shaped, as at 14, forpermitting the stirrups 15 to be moved to neck position, but therearward edges of the recesses, indicated at 16, are vertical, whereasthe upper portions of the recesses are arcuate, as at 17.

The stirrup leathers 18 are generally of conventional construction andinclude inner and outer leathers 19 and 20, and fenders 21.

Another feature of the invention has to do with the ball bearingconstruction and means for attaching the stirrup leathers thereto. Suchbearing 22 is shown in Figure 3, and the details thereof in Figure 2.The ball bearing includes a tubular inner race 23, a cylindrical outerrace 24, and balls 25 therebetween. The outer race 24 has a disk flange26 therearound and holes 27 therethrough for receiving rivets 28. Asshown in Figure 2, the rivets are positioned through the inner and outerleathers 19 and 20, and which rivets have flat heads for compactconstructiom Also, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the inner race 23extends beyond the outer race, and the inner end thereof is notched, asat 29, for engagement with projections 30 on a mounting plate 31. Themounting plate 31 is secured to the flat surface of the recess by meansof screws 32. The mounting plate 31 also includes a central opening 33for receiving a countersunk pivot screw 34 which is threadedly engagedin a flanged nut 34', the flange 35 of which is received beneath therawhide 13 in a recess 36 in the under surface of the bar 11. The outerrecess 12 is covered by a thin metal plate 37 having a countersunk hole38 therein for receiving the head 39 of the screw 34.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be seen that the stirrups15 may be readily swung forwardly and rearwardly a limited distance. Itwill further be seen that applicants unique bearing and stirrup leatherconstruction provides adequate support. Moreover, the securing of theinner race of the ball bearing 22 prevents Wear and assures ball bearingaction at all times. Moreover, the described construction permitsrelatively thin bars 11 for comfort, not only to the rider but to thehorse upon which the completed saddle is placed.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shownand described, but may be made in various ways within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a saddle having a tree including bars on each side thereof, a ballbearing having a disk flange around the outer race, inner and outerstirrup leathers secured at their upper ends to opposite sides of saiddisk flange, and a pivot screw secured to each said bar, said ballbearings and stirrup leathers being pivotally mounted on each saidscrew.

2. In a saddle as defined in claim 1, the construction wherein said barshave recesses in the outer surfaces thereof, and wherein said ballbearings are received in said recesses in the outer surfaces of saidbars.

3. In a saddle as defined in claim 2, the construction wherein saidrecesses are downwardly sloped along their forward edges and verticallydisposed at their rear edges.

4. In a saddle as defined in claim 1, the construction wherein a plateis attached to the outer surface of each of said bars, and wherein theouter end of each said pivot screw is supported by said plate.

5. In a saddle as defined in claim 4, the construction including flangednut fittings in said bars, the flanges of which are received in theinner surfaces thereof, and wherein the inner ends of said screws arereceived within said flanged nut fittings.

6. In a saddle having a tree including bars on each side thereof, saidbars having recesses in the outer surfaces thereof, the forward edges ofsaid recesses being forwardly and downwardly sloped, and the rear edgesof said recesses being verticaly disposed, and stirrup leatherspivotally mounted therein.

Solotinow Apr. 13, 1909 Funk Apr. 19, 1949

